Promoting Physical Activity through Community Interventions: The U.S.A National Blueprint Mini-Grants

Promoting Physical Activity Through Community Interventions:

The National Blueprint: Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults Aged 50 and Older serves as a guide for multiple organizations, associations and agencies to inform and support their planning work related to increasing physical activity among America's aging population. A key priority of the Blueprint projects is to foster local partnerships among community organizations and private sector agencies in the areas of health, environment, transportation, and social services. The Blueprint Mini-grant program was designed to build capacity within local communities in support of creative and sustainable programs and initiatives that will have a significant impact on physical activity participation in the 50+ population. More than 460 applicants from local organizations across the U.S. submitted proposals that were reviewed by experts in aging and health-related fields. Twenty community based projects were selected for funding. The funded programs were characterized by innovative partnerships among diverse community groups that included community organizations and private sector agencies in the areas of health, environment, transportation, and social services. Examples will be provided of successful mini-grant coalitions that were able to raise physical activity levels and increase access to community-based physical activity programs.

Supported by grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.